What Pesticide Kills Leaf Hoppers?

by KW Schumer

Spraying for pests like leafhoppers is often the most effective way to eradicate them.

Leafhoppers are small multi-colored, wedge-shaped pests that plague backyard gardeners and large-scale agriculture operations worldwide. They feed on hundreds of plants and are found from frozen tundra to tropical rainforests. They damage plants by sucking sap from leaves, causing the leaves to develop white blemishes, yellow, wither and fall. Apply pesticides before adults appear and concentrate on the underside of leaves, not produce. Seeds treated with insecticides are also available. All pesticides are toxic and should be used according to label directions.

Synthetic and Chemical Pesticides

Leafhoppers don’t have many natural enemies and controlling infestations with chemical or synthetic pesticides is a common practice. Many pesticides are commercially available to the home gardener. Look for those containing malathion, diazinon and cabaryl. Synthetic and chemical pesticides are highly toxic to pests, beneficial insects, and to people and other mammals. They should be used in moderation and only when infestations can’t be managed through more environmentally friendly measures. Always follow label directions and avoid applying chemical pesticides when beneficial insects, such as bees, are present. Sprays are preferred to dusts for bee safety.

Botanical Insecticides

Naturally occurring toxins extracted from plants to use as pesticides are called “botanical” insecticides. Botanical pesticides work quickly, break down quickly, and target plant-eaters, posing little danger to beneficial insects, people or mammals. They must be reapplied frequently and can be hard to find at your local garden center. Botanical insecticides containing capsaicin -- the ingredient that makes chili peppers hot -- work to repel, not kill, leafhoppers. Insecticides containing pyrethrum, extracted from daisies, can paralyze pests but doesn’t kill them.

Soaps and Oils

All pesticides are toxic, but some are less toxic than others and experts recommend opting for environmentally friendly pesticides that are still effective against leafhoppers, whenever possible. Soaps and oils are generally harmless to people and other mammals and are effective against several kinds of pests in addition to leafhoppers. They work on contact by causing insects to dehydrate. Oils and soaps must be applied to all plant surfaces and reapplied frequently. They are readily available in garden centers nationwide under several product names.

Seed Treatments

In 2003, researchers at the University of Minnesota reported that seeds treated with pesticides show positive results in controlling leafhopper invasions. Products containing neonicotinoids offer two levels of protection, killing insects living in soil, preventing them from attacking roots, and providing systemic protection through the plant itself. Seed treatments are primarily used in agricultural applications.

About the Author

KW Schumer is an award-winning newspaper editor, reporter and writer with more than 15 years of experience working for large, mid-sized and community newspaper companies. She also writes the food blog Chef HJ's Table with her husband, a professional chef and the director and chef-instructor of a culinary school.

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